Since 1920, 17 countries created new capital cities – and one additional is being seriously considered. The reasons vary dramatically – from civil unrest to political pressures to new nationhood to climate change to population growth.
Suez Canal Expansion: Shaving off 15 hours in transit time
In 2016, the “New Suez Canal” was opened which created an additional shipping lane and widened/deepened the original canal to accommodate larger barges.
Qattara Depression: Proposals to create a lake from sand
In the Sahara Desert in Western Egypt, there is a depression called the Qattara Depression that covers an area of more than 7,500 sq. miles (comparable to the size of New Jersey).